Asphalt scammers hit Cowlitz County
The state Department of Labor & Industries says a scam contractor is at work in Cowlitz County.
According to an L&I press release, a young couple was recently persuaded to withdraw cash from the bank to pay for an asphalt paving job. Within a couple of weeks, the asphalt was breaking off in chunks.
L&I says representatives will often approach a homeowner or business and offer to repave a driveway or parking lot cheaply because they have leftover asphalt from another job nearby. The representatives are usually polite, drive nice work vehicles and can be very persuasive.
L&I says it’s not unusual in the summer months for these paving crews to come into the state and hit different communities – often targeting senior citizens. By the time problems appear, they are nowhere to be found.
“Never let anyone rush you into making a decision about home repairs or improvements, no matter how good the deal seems at the time,” said Rich Ervin, L&I’s program manager for contractor registration. “Be wary of great bargains, lifetime guarantees and other high-pressure sales tactics.”
L&I offers these 10 tips to avoid the bad guys.
Tags: Contracting
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September 16th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
Looks like the scammers have moved to Clallam County. The sheriff’s office there reports a contractor operating with the same MO.
September 20th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Yikes, this is getting crazy. Now L&I says scammers are in Eastern Washington, starting in the St. John area and spreading out.
A company operating as Asphalt Driveways has posted signs and flyers in neighborhoods around the state, according to L&I. The propaganda lists a toll-free number for potential customers to call.
L&I has issued 35 infractions against the company, but has been unable to contact anyone.
“L&I often doesn’t hear complaints about the workmanship until after winter, when the asphalt crumbles and falls apart from freezing temperatures,” said Rich Ervin, L&I’s program manager for contractor registration, in a press release. “In some cases, investigators see weeds coming up through the asphalt, or incorrect drainage that causes flooding.”